Gettysburg, PA - 3 Days

We had a bigger vacation planned for this summer, but our stupid car and van had to throw tantrums - in other words, they needed serious repairs. That left us with a little less money so we opted for a 3 day trip to Gettysburg (we went there last year too). Here we are at our first break just north of Apollo, PA.

Over the hills, but not quite through the woods, we finally got onto Rt. 30, the Lincoln Highway, and made our way east. It was my first time riding those winding mountain roads on my own bike, and I did just fine. The last mountain on the downside is no joke, fun, but to be respected.

Here is a video on our Youtube channel of Bryon in the lead, then me, and our friend Goldilocks taking a video from behind us.

We stayed in town this time, which was so much better. Our motel was literally amidst shops and restaurants, and right at the edge of the battlefields and a national cemetery. The land was marked with gravestones of old and new, and of those who could not be identified. It was a beautiful place.

Unknown Soldier Markers

Site of the Gettysburg Address

In town we found souvenirs, even Gettysburg patches, so those were installed on our vests the day after we got home. Watchdog and Tiny had an undercover moment on some benches (maybe they're secret agents!). 

We did the standard ride over to Battlefield Harley-Davidson to get unique shirts, including those with rebel flags on them - the store can make them, but they can't have the Harley-Davidson name on them due to being "offensive". 

Got caught in the rain at Starbucks

Tuesday morning we started our day at McDonald's for breakfast and took a ride through the battlefields. 

It was a longer day home, about 15 hours because we stopped a lot, and detoured north to visit DuBoise Harley-Davidson. By then we were whooped, but went across the street to the DuBoise Diner to eat. The long ride home along Rt. 322 was made intense when Bryon's headlight went out and he was almost hit head-on by a big truck. He lead the pack home as usual with the use of his hi-beam light, surviving dashing critters and fog on Scrubgrass road. Safe and sound. We're ready to go again!

~ Holly, a.k.a. Switchblade

Groundhog Day - in July

We went groundhog hunting, kind of. It was our 2nd annual sunrise ride, when we get up at 3 am to be at breakfast by 4:30am, and hit the road at 5am to ride into a sunrise instead of the usual sunset. Yeah, right. We're talking about bikers in the wee hours - some move fast, others not so much!

But we hit the road at 5:30 heading east out of West Middlesex, PA on Route 62. Riding out to Mercer, we snuck behind the courthouse to catch Scrubgrass Road (Bryon's favorite because it feels like you went through a time warp to get closer to Franklin, PA compared to 62 and 956). We stopped at the Sheetz in Franklin as usual, bullshitting under the new sun.

Our destination was Punxsutawney, PA, the old stomping grounds for our friend Tiny's dad. We caught Route 322 east at Franklin, and that is a nice road for riding. Through Clarion and some other small towns, we made it to Route 36 South, turned right on that, and made it to groundhog country.

If you've never been there, but maybe to other towns known for animals (like Cincinnati and it's flying pigs), Punxsutawney is marked by giant painted statues of groundhogs. Biker's can be a smart bunch, so I'm not sure why we all kept calling them beavers! Well, of course, our dirty minds kept making beaver jokes, like when we stopped at Lily's restaurant there and Hammerhead noted the footlong weiners on the menu, to which I replied that they were for the giant beavers! LOL, even the waitress laughed and had to walk away.

Lily's food was good. I think we'd all recommend it as a good stop on a ride east. And she has a bakery next door. We learned that Phil the Groundhog (not beaver) resides at the public library in town when not working in February, so there we went. There's a viewer windows on the outside of the building and you can watch Phil eat, play, or apparently what he does most - sleep.

There was this one cool groundhog statue painted like the Statue of Liberty. Really cool. Didn't get pics of the other ones, so I guess you'll have to ride out there yourself. Round trip mileage on the route we took was 240 miles. Maybe you'll have your own sunrise ride and make it out for some good riding, delicious food, and some big brown beavers.

Eat to ride, ride to eat,
Holly

The Ohio Route 164 & Route 9 Loop

As usual, we're busy riding and working and, well, here's a little about a recent ride.

In June, Stitchblade let a 200 mile ride south of Youngstown on Route 164. If you go through Columbiana and Lisbon on state route 164, you'll find a really nice road with sweet curves and sweeps - but respect the 5,000 yellow arrow and speed limit signs, the curves are real!

We followed a nice loop that on Google maps resembled the outline of West Virginia. You stay on Route 164 south until you intersect with Route 9 in Kilgore, Ohio. Follow that North. It will bring you to Route 172 - turn right/East - and go to Mark's Landing at Guilford Lake, that's where we landed.

It was a nice, busy place, and took a few minutes to get parked. It was a Sunday, with poker runs coming through. The food was actually good, so we recommend it as a stop, plus the lake was nice.

We reversed route and went back the same way. Okay, so if you do that, make sure to stop at the only gas station for what seems a million miles that is just up the road from Mark's Landing. We had two guys run out of gas. Reserve fuel was hailed after we found a town with not one, but TWO gas stations!

It was a hot day, humid, sweating even while riding. Lots of red arms and faces were brought back to Hubbard. Seriously, if you have all day, the 164/9/172 loop was a great ride. Next time, I think we'll stay on 164 and see where it goes.

Destination: Cincinnati, Ohio

Oh sure, we've been out on the bikes here an there since January. Usually it's been on the way to eat at a favorite restaurant - some can be mentioned, like Fat Jimmy's BBQ in New Castle, PA, while others will forever remain unnamed because we have friends who are food critics and well, sometimes it's embarrassing and we want to be able to go back again.

I digressed (also called mildly venting). Anyway, way back in 2002, I met a young girl, Felicia, at a school where I was conducting my anthropology thesis work. She was in the fourth grade, and I was 32. She took me on a tour of her neighborhood - which I was fine with being into traveling and culture and all. Now in 2017, Felicia is all grown up and got married the night of May 19, 2017.

Two choices of vehicles were at my disposal: my Jeep, but it needed the brakes replaced, or my motorcycle, Poseidon. Fuck those brakes! I decided to take Poseidon, by myself, first overnight solo trip on my own motorcycle! That's what bad bitches do, folks.

I took the back roads. Routes 164, 9, 4, and 22. Route 22 connects Cincinnati to some place in New Jersey. 22 goes right into the heart of Cincinnati city, but I only had to go to the northeast suburbs.

What a ride!

I had only gotten my motorcycle license endorsement three weeks earlier, but I was ready and I had to get to Felicia. Rt. 164 is a nice road, good conditions, winding, hilly, pretty. Of course I didn't get photos (my hands were busy). Bryon taught me well; I whispered his advice and knowledge to myself constantly. I made it there safe, and I even think my riding was better than when just around home.

Here are a few photos I took when on breaks, and of the beautiful bride. - Switchblade

Holly and the Motorcycles

Someday I will write a book. I guess I'll know at the time whether it will be an autobiography or a story based on true events. It depends on if I have nothing left to lose and want to go out in a bkaze of glory, or do what I think will happen: die as a recluse in a chair in a cabin in the woods with one loyal cat and a half-knitted sweater. 

But in the present, all is good. We celebrated the second anniversary of our store, Freedom Thirteen Cycle, on July 1st! The local folks and truck drivers and travelers who have bought items they need or want from us will never fully know how valuable they are. It isn't easy running a brick and mortar store these days. People shop online for the fun factor more than anything, and who doesn't like to see the UPS truck pull up and deliver a package? On the other hand, that Amazon and Ebay seller won't be there for you when your bike breaks down on Rt. 7 or old 82 or out on a country road in Pulaski. Shop local: Bryon and I are on the roads with you, and we'll be the ones who have your back. 

In other news, we've been riding a lot. I got my Yamaha running and inspected in mid-June. Almost 500 miles under my belt now. Thanks to Bryon for teaching me good skills from his motocross days; I feel confident. 

And then we were lucky to get a 4 day vacation in August. Went with 7 grand friends to Gettysburg. I had been there many times before, some had not. It was good for all with perfect weather. We couldn't be happier!

Time never ends, so don't let the Autumn slow your riding. Hopefully you had a summer to remember! Keep riding, stay safe, be merry! ~ Stitchblade 

National Police Week

Respect for Cuts, Colors, and Vests

We do a lot of sewing on of patches at our store, and take pride in making a vest part of a person's identity. That's really what it is - what you are on the inside represented on the outside. Sometimes it's specific to lone wolf people who just have their own thing going on, and other times it's specific to a motorcycle club. Formal motorcycle clubs (MCs) often have their own person who does their patch sewing, a person they can trust, because like I said, it's not just apparel, it's part of a person.

Whatever the case, whoever the person, the vest is treated at all times with respect. Think of it this way. A vest, and if you're in a club it's most likely called a cut, is like an outer skin; it is a part of the wearer. You don't touch it without approval, just like you wouldn't just touch some woman's boobs or some man's penis. Get approval!

You'll see that some formal MC members will remove their cuts before getting into vehicles (when not on their bikes). It's a sign of respect. Informal clubs may keep theirs on; no disrespect is meant, it's just a difference in rules based on the club or group. I've heard that when hugging a club member that you shouldn't touch the back patch if one is there - know who you are hugging.

So, back to the sewing and getting patches placed. Remember that your vest is you. I've sewn on patches and club colors for MCs, RCs, and informal groups. You can bet your ass that I take it seriously. And for those not in a formal club, I work to make your patches have meaning through placement and theme. Again, YOU have meaning, and so should your cut.

~ Stitchblade